Community editor and social media editor

Game on ... Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced the election. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has surprisingly announced the date of the federal election months in advance of the poll.

By revealing it would be held on September 14, 2013 - in 226 days - the Prime Minister has effectively set up Australians for one of the longest election campaigns in history.

The reaction on Twitter was instant, with #auspol, #npc (National Press Club, at which the Prime Minister made her announcement), Sept 14 and Julia Gillard trending almost immediately, as well as Yom Kippur, the Jewish holy day which this year lands on September 14.